Chapter 76
Her wandering gaze drifted downward. Roze lowered her eyes and clutched tightly at her innocent skirt hem.
“Am I making you that uncomfortable?”
At that moment, Heiban, seated across from her, asked. Startled, Roze flinched and lifted her gaze. She looked so tense, like a wary cat ready to bolt at any second.
“N-no, not at all, Your Highness.”
Her answer, so contrary to her body language, nearly made him laugh. Heiban glanced at Roze, who shook her head firmly, then let out a faint chuckle.
“Then make yourself comfortable. Lean back a little.”
“……Yes.”
Only then did Roze realize how stiffly she’d been sitting, and she forced herself to relax. Just as she tried to rest against the seatback, the carriage jolted violently.
“Ah!”
Losing her balance, Roze pitched forward, squeezing her eyes shut as she threw her hands out. But before she fell, a firm hand caught her.
“Are you all right?”
Heiban had quickly reached out to steady her when she toppled toward him. Her neatly braided hair brushed against his neck, tickling his skin, and a faint fragrance drifted from her, brushing his senses.
Like the scent of wildflowers carried on the wind through a quiet country road.
“……!”
Heiban’s body reacted before he realized it. Heat rose from deep within his abdomen. Without thinking, his grip on her tightened—but Roze hastily pulled herself back first.
“M-my apologies, Your Highness.”
“No… it’s fine. You’re not hurt, are you?”
Heiban asked, uneasy at the strange regret pressing at his chest. Roze, still flustered, adjusted her clothes and nodded quickly.
His hand burned where it had held her shoulder. No—his whole body felt as if it were wrapped in the heat that had started low in his belly. Breathless, Heiban drew in a deep breath and opened the small carriage window. Cold air rushed in at once.
“Whoa, whoa.”
From outside came the driver’s voice, calming the horses. After a short while, once the team settled, Heiban called out:
“What happened?”
“My apologies, Your Highness. A stray cat darted out in front of the carriage, and the horses startled…”
The coachman bowed low, pale at the thought that he might have endangered the duke. Heiban waved a hand to reassure him, then asked another question.
“And the cat?”
“Eh? Ah, yes! It slipped safely between the horses and ran off.”
“Then that’s fine. Let’s move on.”
With that, he gave the order. The coachman nodded and the carriage rolled forward again.
Roze swayed slightly with the movement, sneaking a glance at Heiban. He was turned toward the window, so she didn’t have to lower her gaze this time. Relieved, she allowed herself to watch him more openly.
Cold and stern as he might seem, he was still the kind man she remembered. Back when they lived in the countryside, he had been the same—even laughing off the cats that stole carefully dried jerky.
“See, Roze? Even the cats approve of my jerky-making skills. They took it all! Ha ha!”
That memory of him laughing brightly made her eyes soften. Just then, Heiban, still looking out the window, spoke abruptly.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“……Pardon?”
Startled by the sudden question, Roze stiffened. Heiban finally turned his gaze back to her.
“You’ve been staring so hard, I thought you might burn a hole through me.”
Their eyes met—his deep blue locking on hers. Flustered, Roze felt her cheeks blaze.
The air grew awkward. Or maybe it was only awkward for her. She couldn’t help recalling how his hand had held her shoulder, how his warmth had spread through her.
Feeling her face grow hot, Roze fanned herself quickly and blurted out while glancing at the window:
“I’ll get off here, Your Highness.”
Heiban rapped lightly on the carriage wall, and it halted at once.
“Thank you for the ride.”
She bowed quickly as the coachman opened the door and hurried out before Heiban could offer a hand like before.
But before she could relax, Heiban unexpectedly stepped down after her.
“……?”
Wide-eyed, Roze looked at him. He glanced around the area and asked:
“Where are you going? There doesn’t seem to be much around here. No shops that women would usually like.”
“Eh? Ah, um… just…”
Caught off guard, she fumbled for words. Of course there weren’t shops nearby. It was just an ordinary street. What mattered to her was the healer who worked here—something she could tell no one, not even Heiban.
“My mistake. It was rude of me to pry into a lady’s destination.”
There it was again—lady. Remembering how he’d teased her earlier by offering his hand like a knight, her face reddened. Was he mocking her? She glanced at him, but his expression was completely serious.
‘……He wouldn’t joke with me like that.’
Embarrassed by her own thoughts, she brushed her cheek as Heiban spoke again.
“When will you be finished?”
“Ah… it shouldn’t take long. About an hour, maybe.”
He must be worried about Plita, she thought, so she answered sincerely. A checkup and prescription would hardly take longer.
“I see.”
“I’ll return as quickly as I can, so please don’t worry about the young lady…”
“Hm?”
Heiban frowned in confusion.
“I mean… you asked because you’re worried about the young lady, didn’t you?”
“……What?”
“Since I left her side and came out…”
“Ah, I see now.”
Heiban gave a small laugh, then looked at her incredulously.
“If I were that worried about the child, I wouldn’t have given you a week’s leave in the first place, would I?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“I only asked because I plan to return with you.”
Roze blinked, startled. Heiban smiled faintly and repeated:
“I’ll meet you back here in an hour. We’ll go together.”
“N-no! Your Highness, I can return by myself.”
She hurriedly shook her head, finally realizing his intention.
“I know, Roze. You’re not a child. Of course you can go alone.”
He smirked at her flustered face.
“It’s just that I’ll be done with my own matters by then too. Since we’re heading back anyway, there’s no harm in going together, is there?”
“B-but…”
“I’ll wait.”
His tone left no room for refusal. He climbed back into the carriage at once. Roze, still reeling, opened her mouth to protest, but the carriage was already rolling away.
Watching it recede, her cheeks flushed faintly red.
“You seem to be checking the time quite often today, Duke.”
“Ah… my apologies, Madam. I must be being rude.”
Heiban, caught glancing at his watch, immediately apologized. The elderly lady smiled and shook her head, shifting her gaze aside.
Her maid, attending to the tea, instantly understood the signal and lifted the teapot.
“By the way, I heard the young lady has recovered. What a blessing. Truly, the heavens must have helped, and the Lord watched over her.”
The old lady spoke lightly, as if recalling something. Heiban smiled and nodded.
“Yes, and I also wish to thank you again for the medicinal herbs you sent for her. They were a great help.”
“I hardly deserve such thanks. I didn’t even visit her myself.”
She waved her hand modestly. Heiban smiled again and replied:
“Even if you had, you wouldn’t have seen her. The illness was contagious, so she was kept isolated in the annex.”
